By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama’s historic four-day State Visit to Jamaica culminated with a symbolic return to ancestral roots at Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann, where he visited the preserved Ghanaian Village Houses, a lasting testament to the deep historical, cultural and ancestral bonds between Ghana and Jamaica.
The visit highlighted the shared heritage of the two nations and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening relations with the Caribbean through culture, history, trade, investment and diplomacy.
At the heritage park, President Mahama laid a wreath in honour of the African ancestors whose resilience and sacrifices shaped the enduring connection between Africa and the Caribbean. A ceremonial Great House Reception was later held in his honour, attended by Jamaican government officials, cultural leaders, diplomats and members of the Ghanaian delegation.
The President also toured the historic Great House, where he paid tribute to Africans who were forcibly taken across the Atlantic and lived and laboured on the estate during the transatlantic slave trade.
The Great House, constructed in 1745 by the grandson of Captain Richard Hemmings, who was involved in the English conquest of Jamaica in 1655, formed part of the Seville Estate, which covered about 2,500 acres of land.
Originally built as a fortified residence overlooking the sugar plantations, sugar works, the village of enslaved Africans and the Caribbean coastline, the building has preserved several of its distinctive architectural features over the centuries. The property was declared a National Monument by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust in 1999.
Addressing guests at the reception, President Mahama described Ghana and Jamaica as one people connected by shared ancestry, history and cultural traditions. He said both countries must move beyond commemorating their common past and focus on building a prosperous future through stronger economic cooperation, tourism, education, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
The President renewed his call for the establishment of a direct air link between Ghana and Jamaica, noting that improved connectivity would boost tourism, trade, business opportunities, academic collaboration and cultural exchange between West Africa and the Caribbean.
Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, described Ghana and Jamaica as one family united by history and ancestry. She emphasised the need to translate the strong historical ties between the two countries into deeper diplomatic and economic partnerships.
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia “Babsy” Grange, expressed appreciation to President Mahama and the people of Ghana for their support following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. She called for stronger collaboration in tourism and cultural development to create new opportunities for both nations.
President Mahama’s visit to Seville Heritage Park served as a fitting conclusion to his State Visit, celebrating the resilience of the African Diaspora and reaffirming the enduring bonds between Ghana and Jamaica.
The President later attended a State Dinner hosted by the Governor-General of Jamaica, The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, and The Most Honourable Lady Allen at King’s House. The event celebrated the friendship, shared heritage and expanding cooperation between the two sister nations, marking a new chapter in Ghana-Jamaica relations.
